Nobody sets the price of a will. Unlike a court fee, the cost of a will is not published by the government, so it is decided by whoever prepares it and by how complicated your wishes are.
That means the honest answer to "how much does a will cost" is a range rather than a single number. A will you write yourself costs little more than your time. A professionally written simple will typically carries a fixed fee, and detailed planning that involves trusts, business assets or overseas property tends to cost more. This guide sets out the routes, what drives the price, and the related costs people often forget. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change.
How much does a will cost? The short answer
In England and Wales you can make a valid will yourself, and gov.uk confirms this: "You can write your will yourself, but you should get advice if your will is not straightforward" (gov.uk/make-will, as at August 2026, subject to change). So at one end, the cost is close to nothing. At the other, a solicitor drafting a will around a complex estate will charge more, because more work and judgement are involved. Most people fall somewhere in between, paying a fixed fee for a professionally prepared straightforward will.
Because the market is not regulated on price, a quote from one provider is rarely comparable with another until you know what each one includes. The useful question is not only "how much" but "how much for what".
The four main routes, and what you pay for
There are broadly four ways to make a will, and the cost basis of each is different. The table sets out what you are paying for rather than a fixed figure, because published prices vary by provider and are not set by any official body.
| Route | What you pay for | Cost basis |
|---|---|---|
| Write it yourself (DIY or template) | A form, template or online tool, and your own time | Free to low cost. No professional check unless you add one. |
| Free scheme or charity offer | A professionally written simple will if you qualify | Free within the scheme rules; a charity gift is invited but not required. |
| Will writer | A drafted will, usually at a fixed fee | A set fee agreed in advance; single or mirror wills for couples. |
| Solicitor | A drafted will plus legal advice on your circumstances | A fixed fee for a straightforward will, or a higher fee where trusts, tax or disputes are involved. |
General guidance only. Will-writing and solicitor fees are set by each provider and are not published by government. Always ask for the fee in writing before work begins.
Will writers and solicitors both prepare wills. A solicitor is legally qualified and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, while will writers are not all regulated in the same way, so it is worth checking a provider's qualifications, insurance and membership of a professional body before you commit. Fairchild Oldfield are estate planning specialists and will writers, not a firm of solicitors, and we agree any fee with you before starting work.
What affects the cost of a will
Two people can pay very different amounts for a will, and the difference is almost always down to complexity rather than length. The main factors are:
- Single or mirror wills. Couples often make "mirror" wills that reflect each other. Two wills usually cost more than one, though many providers price a pair together.
- Trusts. Including a trust, for example to protect a share of a home or to provide for a vulnerable beneficiary, adds drafting work and cost.
- Blended families. Providing for children from a previous relationship, or balancing a current partner and children, takes more care to draft.
- Business or agricultural assets. These raise questions about succession and reliefs that a simple will does not address.
- Overseas property. Assets in another country may need separate advice and can affect how your will is structured.
- Inheritance tax planning. Where the estate may face a future tax bill, the will is often prepared alongside wider estate planning, which is a broader piece of work.
If your situation is straightforward, you are unlikely to need the most detailed and expensive option. If it is not, paying for advice can be less costly than the problems an unclear will can create later. Our guide on how to write a will explains what a valid will needs, whichever route you choose.
Can you get a will for free?
Sometimes, yes. There are two main free routes, and each has limits.
Free Wills Month and similar charity schemes. Free Wills Month brings together charities and solicitors to offer a professionally written simple will at no charge to people "aged 55 and over", and where a couple make mirror wills "it is sufficient that one has reached the age of 55" (freewillsmonth.org.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). It runs in set periods each year, typically around March and October, on a first-come basis. You are invited to consider leaving a gift to charity, but you are not obliged to. Age UK and several other charities run comparable offers, so it is worth checking what is available in your area.
Writing your own will. You can prepare a will yourself for the cost of the materials. This can suit a very simple estate, but gov.uk advises getting help "if your will is not straightforward" (gov.uk/make-will, as at August 2026, subject to change). A home-made will still has to be signed and witnessed correctly to be valid, and mistakes in wording or signing are a common reason wills are challenged or fail to do what was intended. The saving on the day can turn into a much larger cost for the people you leave behind.
Other costs to plan for
The price of drafting a will is only part of the picture. A few related costs are set officially, so these figures are fixed regardless of who you use.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registering a lasting power of attorney | £92 per LPA | Paid to the Office of the Public Guardian; two types exist, so registering both costs £184. |
| Probate application (after death) | £526 | Charged where the estate is over £5,000; no fee if it is £5,000 or less. |
| Storing your will | Varies by provider | Some include storage, others charge a yearly fee; you can also store it safely yourself. |
| Updating your will | Varies by provider | A small change may use a codicil; larger changes usually mean a new will. |
LPA fee: gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register. Probate fee: gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees. Both as at August 2026, subject to change.
A will and a lasting power of attorney are often prepared together, because a will deals with what happens after death while an LPA covers decisions during your lifetime if you lose capacity. Understanding the later probate costs can also help you weigh up how a clearly drafted will may reduce delay and expense for your family.
- There is no government-set price for a will; costs range from free to several hundred pounds or more depending on complexity (gov.uk/make-will).
- You can write your own will, but gov.uk advises taking advice "if your will is not straightforward" (gov.uk/make-will).
- Free Wills Month offers a professionally written simple will to people aged 55 and over during set periods (freewillsmonth.org.uk).
- Registering a lasting power of attorney costs £92 per LPA (gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register).
- Probate costs £526 where the estate is over £5,000, and nothing at £5,000 or below (gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a will cost in the UK?
There is no fixed or government-set price. You can write a will yourself for the cost of the materials, qualify for a free scheme if you are eligible, or pay a will writer or solicitor a fee that rises with the complexity of your estate. Because prices are not published officially and vary by provider, ask for the fee in writing before any work begins (gov.uk/make-will, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Is it cheaper to use a will writer or a solicitor?
A will writer is often less expensive for a straightforward will, while a solicitor is legally qualified and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and may be better suited to complex estates. Neither has a set price, so the sensible approach is to compare what each fee includes rather than the headline figure alone, and to check a provider's qualifications, insurance and professional membership. This is general information, not a recommendation for your situation.
Can I write my own will for free?
Yes. Gov.uk states you can write your will yourself, though it advises getting help "if your will is not straightforward" (gov.uk/make-will, as at August 2026, subject to change). A home-made will must still be signed and witnessed correctly to be valid, and errors are a common reason wills are challenged, so weigh the saving against the risk.
How can I get a will written for free?
Free Wills Month offers a professionally written simple will at no charge to people "aged 55 and over", with mirror wills for couples where at least one is 55 (freewillsmonth.org.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). It runs during set periods each year on a first-come basis, and you are invited but not required to leave a gift to charity. Other charities run similar schemes, so it is worth checking what is available locally.
How much does it cost to update a will?
Updating a will has no set price. A small change can sometimes be made with a codicil, a short signed and witnessed document added to the existing will, while larger changes usually mean writing a new will. Costs vary by provider, so ask what a change would involve before you proceed. Reviewing a will after a major life event, such as marriage, divorce or a new child, helps keep it current.
How much does probate cost after someone dies?
The probate application fee in England and Wales is £526 where the value of the estate is over £5,000, and there is no fee if the estate is £5,000 or less (gov.uk/applying-for-probate/fees, as at August 2026, subject to change). This is separate from the cost of making a will, though a clearly drafted will can help make the process simpler for those handling your estate.